Medical Care Facility financial report worries county board

The Jackson County Medical Care Facility is again drawing concern from county commissioners after financial reports showed it exceeded its budget in several areas.

Facility officials told commissioners Monday that rising operating costs and fewer patients using the facility this spring caused problems with the budgets for meals and maintenance, among other areas.

The facility was about $30,000 over budget for food so far this year and has spent about $35,300 more than budgeted in maintenance.

But she assured commissioners that facility officials were making budget adjustments regularly.

Commissioners criticized facility officials in April after they asked for a $500,000 loan to cover expenses and an employee was charged and later found guilty of embezzling more than $500 in property.

Parks said the facility is unlikely to lay off workers. "If you lay off people, you are not able to adequately care for residents," she said.

Facility officials said it was difficult to adjust costs for food because residents choose their meals and a state mandate sets standards for portion sizes.

Parks said the facility has reduced the use of plastic cups and sends workers home early if they are not needed.

She said she and the facility's board would be reviewing the finances again soon.

"I was shocked by their lack of response," said Commissioner Mike Way. "(A budget) is like a road map of where you're going. It gives you a month-by-month projection, so you can tell early on if you're doing good or bad and make adjustments. There's a lot of things that don't add up."